Skip to main content

Long read: How TikTok's most intriguing geolocator makes a story out of a game

Where in the world is Josemonkey?

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Pokémon Go - A Seven-Colored Shadow quest tasks and rewards explained

Time to catch a Shadow Legendary Pokémon.

A Seven-Colored Shadow is the new Team Go Rocket special research quest in Pokémon Go.

To unlock this questline, you must have first completed A Troubling Situation and any previous Team Go Rocket quests, such as The Higher They Fly… and An Inter-egg-sting Development.

Be prepared to battle the three Team Go Rocket Leaders - Cliff, Arlo and Sierra - and Giovanni!

On this page:

Cliff Leader battle (Omanyte, Machamp, Tyranitar) in Pokémon GoWatch on YouTube

'A Seven-Colored Shadow' quest tasks and rewards in Pokémon Go explained

A Seven-Colored Shadow is a special research quest in Pokémon Go constructed out of six steps, with each one containing three individual challenges.

To unlock this questline, you must have completed any previous Team Go Rocket quest you might have, such as The Higher They Fly…, and A Troubling Situation, which acts as a tutorial for Team Go Rocket encounters.

Keep in mind that this section does contain spoilers when venturing below!

Thank you to jackyu17 from reddit for the help with this information!

'A Seven-Colored Shadow' Step 1 of 6

  • Catch 10 Pokémon - Teddiursa encounter
  • Spin 3 PokéStops or Gyms - 1 Sun Stone
  • Purify 1 Shadow Pokémon - 15 Poké Balls

Rewards: 1500 XP, 500 Stardust and a Gloom encounter

'A Seven-Colored Shadow' Step 2 of 6

  • Defeat 5 Team Go Rocket Grunts - 5 Hyper Potions
  • Catch 5 Shadow Pokémon - 5 Revives
  • Purify 3 Shadow Pokémon - 15 Great Balls

Rewards: 2000 XP, 500 Stardust and a Xatu encounter

'A Seven-Colored Shadow' Step 3 of 6

Rewards: 2500 XP, 1000 Stardust and a Rocket Radar

'A Seven-Colored Shadow' Step 4 of 6

  • Defeat Team Go Rocket Leader Arlo - Flareon encounter
  • Defeat Team Go Rocket Leader Cliff - Vaporeon encounter
  • Defeat Team Go Rocket Leader Sierra - Jolteon encounter

Rewards: 2500 XP, 1000 Stardust and a Super Rocket Radar

'A Seven-Colored Shadow' Step 5 of 6

Reward: 3000 XP, 2000 Stardust and a Larvitar encounter

'A Seven-Colored Shadow' Step 6 of 6

  • Claim Reward - 2000 XP
  • Claim Reward - 2000 XP
  • Claim Reward - 2000 XP

Rewards: 2000 Stardust, 2 Silver Pinap Berries and 1 Lucky Egg

Tips for completing 'A Seven-Colored Shadow' in Pokémon Go

Below you can find a number of tips which will help you complete A Seven-Colored Shadow in Pokémon Go:

  • Remember to use a Pinap Berry when catching a Shadow Pokémon, so you can gather enough Candy to purify it later on in the quest.
  • Don't forget to check the Rocket balloons when searching for the Team Go Rocket Leaders or Giovanni.
  • Once you've found one of the leaders or Giovanni, it's a good idea to do a scouting match on their team due to how the lineup can differ. This will help you decide which counters to use against their Pokémon, making it easier to defeat their team.
  • If you're having trouble performing three super effective Charged moves in Gyms battles, try picking Pokémon with low CP levels; their Fast moves will deal less damage, ensuring you can perform the Charged attack before your opponent faints.

The World of Wonders season has come to Pokémon Go, which has brought Rediscover Kanto and Sustainability Week, along with the World of Wonders quest. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.


How 'A Seven-Colored Shadow' works in Pokémon Go

A Seven-Colored Shadow, which was released in June 2021, is part of the Pokémon Go's Team Go Rocket invasion storyline. This story is being told through a number of special, and occasionally timed, research quests.

To access A Seven-Colored Shadow, you must have first completed A Troubling Situation, which acts as a tutorial to Team Go Rocket in Pokémon Go.

If you've already completed this quest, then you must also ensure you've finished any previous Team Go Rocket quest you might have started. This could be The Higher They Fly…, An Inter-egg-sting Development or any previous Team Go Rocket quests you might have.

Once you've completed this quest, A Seven-Colored Shadow will automatically start. It will also do this if you're not currently working on a Team Go Rocket related questline.

Image credit: Niantic

Aside from this specific unlocking process, A Seven-Colored Shadow works exactly the same as other special research questlines - a series of challenges which need to be completed in order.

A Seven-Colored Shadow has no time limit, so feel free to take it at your own pace.

Hope you enjoy battling Team Go Rocket!

Read this next